11 Tips Small Business Owners Need to Know
There are some principles that business owners or those thinking of going in to business need to be aware of to build a good successful business.
1. Positive attitude and right mindset
Develop a positive, proactive attitude and the right mindset to allow yourself to be motivated to reach your goals and fulfil your vision. Remember positive emotions empower you to take action and do something.
2. Build good customer relationships
It is imperative to build good customer relationships so that your customer is satisfied with the service that you give to them. This can help retain your customer base by keeping a happy customer; returning for more of your services or products, and helping to build your customer base by the customer referring other customers to buy your products or service – this is free word-of-mouth advertising for your company.
3. Give great customer service
This could be the deciding factor for the customer to choose your business or go to a competitor. I have often been into shops where the customer service warrants me never returning again, due to the unpleasant way I was dealt with or not dealt with at all, or even the abrupt nature of someone on the other end of the phone. Not only is this a loss of business but it gives you company a poor reputation and people will tell friends not to use your service due to poor customer service.
4. Be self-disciplined to guarantee success
To guarantee success of your goals and outcomes; self-discipline is key to enable you to get more things done in a timely manner.
Certain things in your working day warrant it to be done in within a time-frame. If you are meeting a client, then you would plan prior to the meeting and ensure you turn up in good time. If you are offering a product which says that you will receive it in 10 days ensure that this does happen and the same for a service being offered. Being self-disciplined about what you need to achieve is paramount.
5. Be tenacious and never give up
There will be challenges along the way, keeping focused on what you want to achieve and not giving in to obstacles along the way will help you to drive your business forward, persisting until you succeed. Many successful business owners failed before they became a success. Use it as a tool for learning when challenges come your way. Persist until you succeed to drive your business forward.
6. Do what other successful people do
Copy what other successful people do and replicate this in your business. If you are able to have a mentor in the same line of business you are in or have a chat with someone who is already successful with 5-1- years experience and ask their advice.
7. Be prepared to get up earlier and work longer
Put in the extra hours to get to where you want to be especially in the beginning you may find this necessary and as your business takes off you may be able to adjust this as time goes on
8. Take time out to generate ideas for business development
Schedule time out of your working day/week for business development enabling flexibility and visibility of your business and where it is going. It also allows you to develop better ideas, spend some time on what your customer likes and increase the service in that area and create new business.
9. Have the ability to sell their products and services persuasively
Ensure that you know your product or service, what is the process if a customer wants to buy your product or service, what other products do you have. Be knowledgeable, confident and passionate about what you are selling so that you you do not put your customer off.
10. Have a good supportive partner or friend
Undoubtedly there will be often times where you will need a supportive partner, to support you through good times and bad. Know who you can call on for support whether it be a business partner, friend in the business field or husband/wife.
11. Take a vested interest in yourself
Understand what your strengths and weaknesses are and take action – get trained and take a course if you need it, or if you are weak in a particular area, study materials, read books and articles until you get there and even employ someone so you can get on with what you are good at.
Taken from Excerpt of “Know Your Biz Practical business strategies to help you move forward and accelerate your business” Author Liz Springer-Bawuah To find out more get the book go to www.knowyourbiz.co.uk/lsb_main_007.htm